11 Ways William and Duchess Kate Have Broken Royal Protocol

It's been five years since the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge made it official. Five years since you (maybe) woke up at 5 a.m. to catch a glimpse of Kate Middleton's gown as she walked up that dramatic aisle at Westminster Abbey, her first steps into her new life as a member of the a royal family — which now includes two new, incredibly adorable members! Throughout their relationship, William and Kate have flouted tradition again and again — though typically, their choices have been received with lots of love. Christopher Andersen, the author of the new book Game of Crowns: Elizabeth, Camilla, Kate, and the Throne, breaks down some examples of their rebellious behavior.

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1They live outside London.

Yes, they have an apartment in Kensington Palace, but they actually hang their hats (and fascinators) elsewhere. "Where they really live is a place called Anmer Hall, on the grounds of Sandringham in Norfolk," Andersen says. "It's far to the north of London. That's where they spend 90% of their time, because it's close to his work." Staying out of the city allows them to shop at the supermarket like normal folks.

2They're not working very much.

Arguably, you might say that traveling around the world and making appearances isn't a real job. Those tasks are their responsibility, though, and they don't do much of it. "Normally, someone in William's position would be doing what Charles and Camilla and the queen and Prince Philip and Princess Anne do, anywhere up to 500 events a year," Andersen explains. "They do hundreds and hundreds of ribbon-cuttings, tree-plantings, hospital walkabouts, as they call them. The queen does more work of this sort than William, Kate, and Harry combined." Before you call them lazy, know that it's a purposeful choice, in the hopes of having a normal life, and that Wills still works 10-hour shifts as a pilot.

When it comes to little George and Charlotte, "They're not having them raised by a coterie of nannies behind palace walls," Andersen says. "Charles had no real exposure as a small child to the world outside the royal circle. She does have a nanny, but really Kate is a hands-on mom." The Cambridges are following in Diana's footsteps with that one.

5They're sending George to school.

Their enrollment is about more than really cute photo ops like this one. "Sending them to nursery school is a major message, saying we're going to do things Diana's way," Andersen says. "Diana took William and Harry to McDonald's, and amusement parks, to the movies. She took them to an AIDS clinic, cancer wards, children's hospitals, homeless shelters, and I think we're going to see the same kind of thing [with William and Kate]."

6They went to college.

Peter Kelly

Speaking of schooling, when/if Kate is coronated one day, she'll be the first queen of England with a college degree! Of course, they met in college, which allowed them to have a very un-royal courtship. "They were friends first, and able to live in this bubble shielded from the press," Andersen says. "They were ordering Chinese food and taking bike rides, and going to the pub like anyone else."

7They regularly release photos of their family.

Kensington Palace/Instagram

Past royals didn't exactly have the option to tweet and post online, but this royal couple releases photos on Twitter and Instagram at regular intervals and on special occasions (heck, it's even a job they're hiring for right now). It's a bit more shrewd than sweet, though. "William is very press-shy, for all the obvious reasons. He blames the press for his mother's death, to some extent," Andersen says. "Kate Middleton is the coolest head in the royal family. She knows how to handle them, and one way to handle them is to release photos on your own terms."

8Kate is not an aristocrat.

Jane Scutter via People.com

A key part of this particular royal romance is that Kate wasn't chosen for her noble upbringing or lineage. "Camilla didn't approve of Kate, and thinks of her as a coal-miner," Andersen says. In addition to having an education, "Kate will be the first working-class queen."

9They're meeting with foreign leaders ...a little early.

The pics of President Obama hanging out with George in his jammies were beyond cute — and highly indicative. "I'm astounded that the press hasn't asked why Charles and Camilla weren't in the mix. It's a big breach of protocol to have the outgoing president not see the next monarch," Andersen points out. "You can't skip over Charles and Camilla. It just can't be done. But the queen arranges everything, so she's sending a message."

10They are affectionate.

GETTY / PASCAL LE SEGRETAIN / STAFF

Occasionally, William and Kate will wrap their arms around each other, or lean in, or jubilantly celebrate a sports victory with a hug. "You never see Prince Phillip and Queen Elizabeth hug or touch each other in public," Andersen says. "I will say that William and Kate aren't crass about it. They still maintain a level of dignity." But of course!

11They actually like each other.

They are snuggly in public because they truly have feelings for each other. It's rarer than you might think. "Infidelity has been the hallmark of the royal family for centuries," Andersen says. And as depressing as that fact is, William and Kate represent a turning of the tide: a union of romantic love, as opposed to a marriage of political strategy. Cheers to them!

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